MOT without compacting

Hi - I'm putting down MOT on a space cleared for a parking space.
However, because there's a clay pipe running diagonally across (depth unknow, but possibly less than a metre) I'd rather not use a compactor for fear of cracking it with the vibration.

I've been told that over time, the MOT will settle.
I know it's not ideal, but will it be OK in time?

Compact the stuff: you're not going to hurt a clay pipe unless you put the plate right on top of it.

Are you intending this to be the finished surface?

I went to a camp site where they'd used the stuff on access roads, in dry summer weather. There were vast dust clouds everywhere, especially when driven on. The fine white powder in it is finer than sand, you'll get fed up of cleaning your windows and cars. It's fairly soluble too, it turns into a limey white paste when it gets wet.

MOT is only intended for use under something else.

Use 20mm gravel instead. Perhaps put a thin layer of 10mm over the pipe, just in case it finds its way down to it over the years. Probably not necessary unless it's really shallow though.

Compacting it would be helpful, but you don't need to compact anything unless you're going to pave over it. Cars and time will compress it, but you may get tyre ruts if you don't.

Toastandjam said:

I've been told that over time, the MOT will settle

Click to expand...

Don't listen to them in future

It will partly settle - over many years, but it will settle unevenly, and settling is not compaction.

It will rut wherever you drive the car and compact wherever you park the car